Two Suspects Arrested for Smuggling Relics from Syria into Lebanon

'Two Suspects Arrested for Smuggling Relics from Syria into Lebanon' Al Bawaba February 3rd, 2018

State Security arrested two suspects Saturday for smuggling relics and artefacts from Syria into Lebanon. The first suspect, identified Hasan A. was arrested in the southern port city of Tyre, while his cousin Radwan A. was arrested in Chtoura in Zahle. The suspects reportedly brought small artefacts across the border in a shipment of food. The suspects were referred to the Public Prosecutors office and the seized items were sent experts in order to determine if they are real or not and their archaeological value.  [...] According to the Lebanese Directorate General of Antiquities, security forces seized over 300 objects between 2012 and 2014 alone. This included a truck carrying 79 objects, some of which belonged to the ancient site of Palmyra that had been overrun by ISIS.